---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess when life hands you lemons, chop…"
description: "\"“I guess when life hands you lemons, chop 'em up and get lemonade; when life hands you cats, chop 'em up and get pussy.”\" — John Barnes"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/john-barnes-2996_lemonade_i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop_3053859.png"
---

#  I guess when life hands you lemons, chop 'em up and get…

![“I guess when life hands you lemons, chop 'em up and get lemonade; when life hands you cats, chop 'em up and get pussy.” quote by John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/john-barnes-2996_lemonade_i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop_3053859.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/john-barnes-2996_lemonade_i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop_3053859.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/john-barnes-2996_lemonade_i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop_3053859.png)

> ““I guess when life hands you lemons, chop 'em up and get lemonade; when life hands you cats, chop 'em up and get pussy.””

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life’s challenges can be turned into opportunities by creatively repurposing what you receive.

**In simple terms:** Turn problems into chances.

Key Takeaway

Adapt and create value from setbacks.

Themes

creativity resourcefulness humor

Mood

playful irreverent

Type

humorous satirical

When to use this quote

- personal setbacks
- business pivots
- creative projects
- daily irritations

Key Concepts

mindset reframing innovation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you responsibly reinterpret a difficulty?
- When does humor hinder seriousness?

A Different Perspective

Not all situations can be safely or ethically transformed; some require acceptance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cats Chop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats-chop-5092173/) [Lemonade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lemonade/) [Lemonade Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lemonade-life-592184/) [Lemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lemons/) [Lemons Chop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lemons-chop-3471909/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Hands You Lemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-hands-you-lemons/) [Pussy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pussy/)

## Related quotes

> [When life hands you lemons make lemonade. Then find someone who's life gave them Tequila and have a party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/when-life-hands-you-lemons-make-lemonade-then-find-someone-who-s-life/)

[Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/)

> [Some say, 'When life hands you lemons you make lemonade'...When life hands me lemons, I eradicate world hunger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-say-when-life-hands-you-lemons-you-make-lemonade-when-life-hands/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. But when life hands you hurricanes, you go surfing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/when-life-hands-you-lemons-you-make-lemonade-but-when-life-hands-you/)

[Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/)

> [Some people say when life hands you lemons, make lemonade? What if life hands you a pile of shit, what are you supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/some-people-say-when-life-hands-you-lemons-make-lemonade-what-if-life/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade.when life hands you family &amp; friends, tell them you love them every chance you get. when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhanush/when-life-hands-you-lemons-you-make-lemonade-when-life-hands-you/)

[Dhanush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhanush/)

> [“Some people say when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. But when life gives you one seriously ticked off god gunning for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/some-people-say-when-life-gives-you-lemons-you-make-lemonade-but-when/)

[Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/)

> [When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives me lemons... I eat them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guardian-hommie-g/when-life-gives-you-lemons-you-make-lemonade-when-life-gives-me/)

[Guardian/Hommie G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guardian-hommie-g/)

> [Life gives you lemons, lemonade. Life gives you hoes, you pimpin mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-linen/life-gives-you-lemons-lemonade-life-gives-you-hoes-you-pimpin-mane/)

[Shaun Linen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-linen/)

> [If life gives you lemons you make lemonade, but what if life gives you lemonade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chola/if-life-gives-you-lemons-you-make-lemonade-but-what-if-life-gives-you/)

[Chola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chola/)

> [“If life hands you lemons, make lemonade. If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cap-n-fatty-goodlander/if-life-hands-you-lemons-make-lemonade-if/)

[Cap'n Fatty Goodlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cap-n-fatty-goodlander/)

> [“Some say if life hands you lemons, make lemonade. I say if you're dealing with sour grapes, drink lots of wine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-lafleche/some-say-if-life-hands-you-lemons-make-lemonade-i-say-if-you-re/)

[Isabelle Laflèche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-lafleche/)

> [“See, Red? When life hands you lemons, you know what you gotta do now." "Yes, Mr. Cliche. I know what I have to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priscilla-glenn/see-red-when-life-hands-you-lemons-you-know-what-you-gotta-do-now-yes/)

[Priscilla Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priscilla-glenn/)

> [When life hands you lemons, screw it, do you honestly know how to make lemonade?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/braden-walker/when-life-hands-you-lemons-screw-it-do-you-honestly-know-how-to-make/)

[Braden Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/braden-walker/)

> [“When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Then find someone who's life is givin' them vodka and have a party!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/when-life-gives-you-lemons-you-make-lemonade-then-find-someone-who-s/)

[Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/)

> [We cut up lemons on a chop board because they are good for our voices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/we-cut-up-lemons-on-a-chop-board-because-they-are-good-for-our-voices/)

[Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/)

## More by John Barnes

> [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [For a long time, images of black men with big lips and a round head were used to make us feel inferior, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/for-a-long-time-images-of-black-men-with-big-lips-and-a-round-head/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [Normally when you look at the Ballon d'Or winners, they're either attacking midfield players or centre-forwards. They are goalscorers and eye-catching players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/normally-when-you-look-at-the-ballon-d-or-winners-they-re-either/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [This is not the way these tales end," Calliope said firmly. "This is not the way that things end when they get to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/this-is-not-the-way-these-tales-end-calliope-said-firmly-this-is-not/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [“Where did you find construction guys swapping dirty jokes in proto-Númenorean?” Aura asked. “On construction sites. Is that coffee ready?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/where-did-you-find-construction-guys-swapping-dirty-jokes-in-proto-n/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [Young English managers don't get enough time, young black managers aren't given enough time, there are a lot of reasons why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/young-english-managers-don-t-get-enough-time-young-black-managers/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [I felt I had to take the Celtic opportunity. You quickly learn that any managerial vacancy attracts up to 60 or 70 applicants, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-felt-i-had-to-take-the-celtic-opportunity-you-quickly-learn-that/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [You have to give 100 per cent in every game and you cannot give more than 100 per cent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/you-have-to-give-100-per-cent-in-every-game-and-you-cannot-give-more/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [African society and culture varies much more than European society but it's just considered 'Africa' as if they are all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/african-society-and-culture-varies-much-more-than-european-society/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [“By noon everyone had heard that I had spent the night with Marti in a hotel room and when the cops came by, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/by-noon-everyone-had-heard-that-i-had-spent-the-night-with-marti-in-a/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [Football is all about scoring goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/football-is-all-about-scoring-goals/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [“Ah. Well, it stands for Freedom From Morality. We don't think healthy amorality happens naturally." "But you're not amoral," I pointed out. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/ah-well-it-stands-for-freedom-from-morality-we-don-t-think-healthy/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [I'm a real meat eater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-m-a-real-meat-eater/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [Race, for me, should be social and cultural, rather than the colour of your skin. Anton Ferdinand would have more in common with John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/race-for-me-should-be-social-and-cultural-rather-than-the-colour-of/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [The truth is that those at the top of British football do not care about getting rid of racism, they just don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/the-truth-is-that-those-at-the-top-of-british-football-do-not-care/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

[Explore all 143 John Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

## More Lemonade quotes

> [If fate sends you a lemon, use it to make lemonade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-block/if-fate-sends-you-a-lemon-use-it-to-make-lemonade/)

[Lawrence Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-block/)

> [If I catch anyone making lemonade from my lemons I will shit on their lawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sessler/if-i-catch-anyone-making-lemonade-from-my-lemons-i-will-shit-on-their/)

[Adam Sessler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sessler/)

> [When life gives you lemons I say fuck lemonade. Take it with a shot of tequila.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-life-gives-you-lemons-i-say-fuck-lemonade-take-it-with-a-shot-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Some people say when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. But when life gives you one seriously ticked off god gunning for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/some-people-say-when-life-gives-you-lemons-you-make-lemonade-but-when/)

[Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/)

> [I BELIEVE THAT IF LIFE GIVES U LEMONS U SHOULD MAKE A LEMONADE...AND TRY TO FIND SOMEONE WHOSE LIFE HAS GIVEN THEM VODKA,AND JUST…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/i-believe-that-if-life-gives-u-lemons-u-should-make-a-lemonade-and/)

[RON WHITE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/)

> [Kissing Simon was pleasant. It was a gentle sort of pleasant, like lying in a hammock on a summer day with a book and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/kissing-simon-was-pleasant-it-was-a-gentle-sort-of-pleasant-like/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [If life hands you lemon ……make lemonade!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ochola-james/if-life-hands-you-lemon-make-lemonade/)

[Ochola James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ochola-james/)

> [I believe that starting any business should be as easy as a 10-year-old starting a lemonade stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-believe-that-starting-any-business-should-be-as-easy-as-a-10-year/)

[Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/)

> [A lot of drive is innate, self-perpetuated, reinforced energy. As a kid, I could always sell anything I could get my hands on -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ovitz/a-lot-of-drive-is-innate-self-perpetuated-reinforced-energy-as-a-kid/)

[Michael Ovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ovitz/)

> [If life gives you lemon..dont make lemonade with that,,rather than making lemonade squeeze it on others eyes and let them do not watch you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geethanjali-thampy/if-life-gives-you-lemon-dont-make-lemonade-with-that-rather-than/)

[Geethanjali Thampy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geethanjali-thampy/)

> [On the good ship Lollipop Its a sweet trip To the candy shop Where bon-bon's play, On the sunny beach Of peppermint bay Lemonade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/on-the-good-ship-lollipop-its-a-sweet-trip-to-the-candy-shop-where/)

[Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/)

> [“when life gives you lemonade make lemons cause life will be all like what”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/modern-family/when-life-gives-you-lemonade-make-lemons-cause-life-will-be-all-like/)

[Modern Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/modern-family/)

> [I so connected to symbolically being able to turn lead into gold. My grandmother used to say, "Life give you a lemon, you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-so-connected-to-symbolically-being-able-to-turn-lead-into-gold-my/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

> [“When life gives you lemons. . . You might as well shove 'em where the sun don't shine, because you sure as hell aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thurman/when-life-gives-you-lemons-you-might-as-well-shove-em-where-the-sun/)

[Rob Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thurman/)

> [My father...made us shop at Goodwill. I found things to wear and got Best Dressed (in the yearbook) two years in a row. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cannon/my-father-made-us-shop-at-goodwill-i-found-things-to-wear-and-got/)

[Nick Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cannon/)

[Browse all 212 Lemonade quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lemonade/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I guess when life hands you lemons, chop 'em up and get lemonade; when life hands you cats, chop 'em up and get pussy.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Barnes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop-em-up-and-get-lemonade-when/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Lemonade"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop-em-up-and-get-lemonade-when/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/john-barnes-2996_lemonade_i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop_3053859.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/john-barnes-2996_lemonade_i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop_3053859.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/john-barnes-2996_lemonade_i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop_3053859.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I guess when life hands you lemons, chop 'em up and get lemonade; when life hands you cats, chop 'em up and…” — John Barnes",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Barnes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I guess when life hands you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop-em-up-and-get-lemonade-when/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-guess-when-life-hands-you-lemons-chop-em-up-and-get-lemonade-when/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
